E.J. Peaker, 'Hello, Dolly!' Star, Dies at 82

E.J. Peaker, a stage and screen performer best remembered for her work in the 1969 film adaptation of Hello, Dolly! and the 1986 Blake Edwards comedy That’s Life, died on July 26 at the age of 82. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed, but Peaker’s family confirmed the news to close friends earlier this week.

Peaker’s career spanned more than four decades, though she is most widely recognized for her supporting role as Minnie Fay in Hello, Dolly!, the lavish musical film directed by Gene Kelly and starring Barbra Streisand. In that production, Peaker played the shy millinery shop assistant who helps matchmaker Dolly Levi (Streisand) navigate a complicated romance with the wealthy Horace Vandergelder (Walter Matthau). While the film received mixed reviews upon release - some critics found it too long and overproduced - it later became a cult favorite among musical enthusiasts, and Peaker’s energetic performance as the nervous but good-hearted Minnie earned her a loyal following.

Nearly two decades later, Peaker took a very different role in That’s Life, a semi-autobiographical drama-comedy written and directed by Blake Edwards and starring Jack Lemmon and Julie Andrews. She played a guest at a weekend birthday party in the film, which follows Lemmon’s character through a midlife crisis. Though a minor part, the role placed her alongside some of Hollywood’s most respected actors and underscored her ability to shift between musical comedy and character-driven drama.

A versatile career on stage and screen

Peaker was born in New York City and began performing as a child in local theater productions. She made her Broadway debut in the early 1960s, landing a spot in the chorus of several musicals before breaking into featured roles. Her big break came in the mid-1960s when she was cast in the national tour of Bye Bye Birdie, which led to television appearances on variety shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show and The Carol Burnett Show.

In addition to her film work, Peaker maintained an active television career into the 1990s. She appeared in guest-starring roles on series such as The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, and Murder, She Wrote. She also returned to the stage periodically, performing in regional productions of Mame, The Pajama Game, and No, No, Nanette. Her singing voice - a bright, clear soprano - was often praised by critics who covered those live engagements.

Peaker quietly stepped away from the spotlight

By the early 2000s, Peaker had largely retired from acting. She settled in Southern California, where she devoted time to painting and volunteer work with arts education programs for underprivileged children. Friends described her as “fiercely private” and “deeply committed to helping young performers find their footing,” according to a statement released by her family.

She is survived by a brother and several nieces and nephews. A private memorial service is expected to be held in Los Angeles later this summer, with a possible tribute event scheduled at the Paley Center for Media, given her extensive television work.

Peaker’s death marks the latest loss of an actor from the golden age of the Hollywood musical. While she never achieved the superstar status of some of her Hello, Dolly! co-stars, she leaves behind a body of work that reminds audiences of the charm and discipline required to bring a supporting character to life in a big-budget musical.

For many fans, the memory of Peaker’s Minnie Fay - wide-eyed, flustered, yet utterly sincere - encapsulates the warmth that made Hello, Dolly! a beloved if imperfect musical. In a 2019 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Peaker reflected on the experience, saying, “I was just happy to be there, singing and dancing with people I’d admired for years. That movie taught me that even a small part can leave a big impression if you pour your heart into it.”

That sentiment captures the quiet dignity of a career built not on headlines, but on steady, heartfelt work - a legacy that will continue to be celebrated by those who remember her smile on the screen.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter